Fare-box.



W. T. 000K.

FARE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED 110V. I, 1913. 1,1 29,52. Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS 50.. PHOTO-THO WASHINGTON, D. c

WALTER T. COOK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FARE-B OX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Application filed November 7, 1913. Serial No. 799,702.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALTER T. Coon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fare-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to fare boxes or money collection receptacles such as are at present used largely upon street cars and the like, but which may also conveniently be employed in collecting admission. fees to recreation parks, ferries, certain kinds of amusement places, and in other situations where a single definite fare or admission fee is charged. Inasmuch, however, as the present use for devices of this character is largely confined to use with street cars, the description of the same will bear particular reference to this use but without any intention to circumscribe the uses of the invention.

The object of the present invention is the improvement of devices of this type in point of simplicity, reliability, cheapness, and security; the provision of a device of this character having a -new and improved construction of inspection box wherein the clogging or obstruction of the passageway by tickets, transfers, or the like shall be reduced to a minimum and from which the removal of fares shall be as nearly impossible as can be made; the provision of a newand simplified construction of inspection box whereby the number of parts may be reduced to a minimum and an exceedingly reliable device produced; the provision of a construction of receptacle whereby its joints and securing devices may be entirely shielded from, the tampering of unauthorized persons; the provision of a new and improved telltale whereby any inversion of the box may infallibly be indicated; while further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

This application is a continuation in part of my former ap lication, filed April 22, 1913, Serial No. 62,816, and reference is hereby made to said former application as to so much of the same as is common to the present case. I

One embodiment of my invention and the one which is preferred for most purposes is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete fare box including the inspection box and the casing inwhich the operating mechanism is housed; Fig. 2 is a vertical, crosssectional view through the inspection box andv the upper part of the casing; Fig. 3 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken upon the broken line 33 of Fig. 2 and looking downwardly; Fig. a is a detail view of the corner construction of the inspection box; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred construction of telltale; and Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views showing modified forms of telltales.

Describing the parts by reference characters represents the cover or top plate of the casing, the same being secured to the side walls 5151 of the same in any suitable manner and being formed at any convenient point with a hopper 52 terminating in a downwardly facingledge 53 closed by a trap or door 55 secured to a rock shaft 54- ournaled at one side of said hopper.

Formed in the cover 50 at the corners of the hopper 52 are vertical apertures in which are inserted the lower threaded ends of rods 90. Secured about each of these rods is a right angular, metallic, corner piece 91, formed at its inner side with suitable integral perforated cars 92 through which said rods project. Overhanging the upper ends of these corner pieces is a frusto-pyramidal top 93 having therein a hopper-opening 94 for the reception of the fares. This arrangement provides a rectangular skeleton box. The sides of the box are closed by means of plate glass strips 95 which fit against the inner faces of the corner pieces 91 and rest at their lower ends upon ledges 96 formed at the sides of the hopper 52. Integral fingers 97 formed at intervals around these ledges secure the glass against inward displacement. The formation of the ledges slightly narrower than the thickness of the glass prevents the lodgment of coins, tickets, or other tokens thereon. The upper ends of the plates are held in place by means of a rectangular metallic support 98 located within the top 93. The various parts of the inspection box are secured toadapted to be gether by having the top 93 secured to the 9 of thumb nuts 99. The nuts 99 being inside the casing, it is impossible for designing persons to obtain access thereto so as to dismantle the inspection box.

In order to prevent coins, tokens, or tickets, from being fished out of the inspection box, and even out of the collection receptacle via the door 55, I employ suitable deflecting members within the inspection box as will now be described. Each of these deflectors preferably consists of a metallic hopper having an inclined bottom 100 and sides 101. The corners of the same are formed with apertured ears 102 through which the rods 20 are passed as shown in Figs. 3 and 1. These deflectors are spaced apart and away from the ends of the inspection box by means of hollow sleeves 103 surrounding the rods 90 andinterposedbetween the ears 102. The sides 101 preferably lie closely adjacent to the glass plates so as to prevent tickets-from being caught. therebetween, and the bottoms 100 may be extended upwardly as shown at 1041 for the same purpose. Successive deflectors are preferably located in opposite directions as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and the numberof the same and their shape will depend upon the kind and size of the tickets or tokens which are expected to be employed. In the present embodiment I have illustrated, in addition to the deflectors described, a small deflector 105 located immediately beneath the hopper opening 94- and secured to the top 93 in any suitable manner as by screws. .The lower edge of each deflector is preferably serrated as-illustrated at 106, both the points and sides of the teeth being carefully sharpened. This absolutely prevents suc cessful fishing for coins or tickets by means of a line baited with an adhesive substance as has sometimes been done. Some or all of the plates may also be formed with apertures 107 so as to permit the conductor to view the entire bottom of the hopper so as to examine the fares deposited therein, these apertures being" of less size that the coins or tokens used.

In some cases cars are made withonly a single place for the motormen and only a single placev for the conductor, the car being always operated in the same direction. In

' a case like this the whole; fare box is genportion of the coins or tokens therein. Inasmuch, however,as there is no excuse for the inversion of the box in the ordinary course of business, I provide Within the inspection box a telltale which will indicate instantly whether the box has been inverted. In. the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3 this telltale consists of a small metallic cup 112 carried at the end of an arm 113 which has atits opposite end an eye 11 1 surrounding one of the rods. (Dne side ofthis cup. is formed with a pair of upstanding spaced ears 116, 116 receiving the pintle 117 to which is pivoted a suitable covering member 118, here shown as a straight narrow bar adapted to traverse the top of the cup and rest upon the rim. The rearward end of this bar is preferably overhung somewhat beyond the pivot asshown at 119so as to limit the possible upward .movemenhof the bar, being chamfered if necessary on its under side so as to permit the raising, of the cover or bar to the extent necessary to permit the escape of the ball. The reason for arresting this bar is that it must always be in position .to fall to obstructing position. A common glass. marble 115 placed in this cup cannot any possibility be removed from the same excepting upon the inversion of the inspection box, yet upon such inverson the cover or bar 118 wouldimmediately swing to one side so as to permit lits escape. Likewise after having been removed this marble cannot by any possibility. be replaced owing to the fact that whatever jouncing is given to the box in an effort to replace the marble, the cover. or bar always falls to its seat prior to the. arrival of. the marble. Of course many variationsinthis cover can be adopted, or the same .can be entirely dispensed with, especially in case two or more .telltales be employed as shown in Fig. 7, or in casea large number ofsmall members such asshot be employedin a singlecup as shown in 6. In Fig. 6 I have shown. a cup 112 carried atthe end of an ar n113i and containing a plurality of shot 115.v In 7 have shown a pair of cups112 carried at the ,end of the arm 113 and each containinga .ballor marble115l. In these cases I have omitted the use of any cover since. the jouncing back of two or more marbles or other members at the same time is almost an impossible feat,

While I have described my invention in detail, I ,do not propose to be limited to such details, except as the same may be positively included in the claims hereto annexed or .maybe rendered necessary by the prior corner pieces having integral apertured ears through which said bolts pass, a top member resting upon the upper ends of said corner pieces and receiving the ends of said bolts, said top member having an opening, retaining means carried by said bolts beneath said hopper, glass plates interposed between adjacent corner pieces and forming walls for said boX, spacing members surrounding said bolts and distinct from said corner pieces, and deflector plates having apertures receiving said bolts and spaced apart by said spacing members.

2. In a fare boX, the combination, with a hopper having apertures at its corners and ledges at its sides, of bolts projecting through said apertures, corner pieces having integral apertured ears through which said bolts pass, a top resting upon the upper ends of said corner pieces and receiving the upper ends of said bolts, said top having depending marginal flanges and an upwardly facing opening, retaining means carried by said bolts beneath said hopper, glass plates interposed between adjacent corner pieces and forming walls for said box, the lower ends of said plates resting on said ledges and the upper ends of the same being received within said flange, a rectangular open metallic brace interposed between the upper ends of said plates and maintaining them in contact with said flange, spacing members surrounding said bolts, and deflector plates having apertures receiving said bolts and spaced apart by said members.

'3. In a fare box, the combination, with a rectangular hopper having apertures at Copies of this patent may its corners and shelves at its sides, of rectangular corner pieces at said corners and having their adjacent sides in alinement, integral projections carried by the ends of said corner pieces and formed with apertures in alinement with said first apertures, glass plates mounted upon said shelves and engaging the sides of said corner pieces, ears carried by said hopper and engaging the inner sides of said plates, a top member surmounting said corner pieces and having a depending flange overlapping said plates, a metallic bracing member within said top and engaging the inner sides of said plates, bolts traversing said apertures and secured to said top member, spacing sleeves surrounding said bolts, and deflector members having quadrilaterally arranged ears surrounding said bolts between said sleeves.

4c. In a fare box, the combination, of a fare receiving casing having therein a plurality of baffle plates arranged to obstruct the withdrawal of fares therefrom, of an upwardly opening cup located within said casing, a pivoted member arranged to overlie the top of said cup, and a telltale object adapted to be received in said cup beneath said pivoted member and to be retained therein so long as said casing is maintained in upright position and to fall out of the same upon the inversion of said casing.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afliX my signature in the presence of two wltnesses.

'WALTER T. COOK.

lVitnesses:

HAROLD E. SMITH, J OHN B. HULL.

be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

